With the NCAA a year away from choosing the next round of Division I Men's Basketball tournament sites, I've decided to make my predictions on who will host what over the next schedule cycle of 2023 to 2026.

2023-26 First Four
UD Arena
Dayton
University of Dayton

2023
1st/2nd Rounds(3-16/18):
Honda Center
Anaheim
Big West Conference
Wells Fargo Arena
Des Moines
Iowa State
Greensboro Coliseum
Greensboro
Atlantic Coast Conference
AmericanAirlinesArena
Miami
University of Miami
1/2nd Rounds(3-17/19):
Key Bank Center
Buffalo
Canisius University, Niagara University and Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Van Andel Arena(NEW)
Grand Rapids
Western Michigan University
T-Mobile Arena(NEW)
Las Vegas
UNLV
FedExForum
Memphis
University of Memphis

East Regional(3-23/25)
PPG Paints Arena
Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
West Regional(3-23/25)
Seattle Center Coliseum
Seattle
University of Washington
Midwest Regional(3-24/26)
Sprint Center
Kansas City
Big 12 Conference
South Regional(3-24/26)
Rupp Arena
Lexington
University of Kentucky

2024
1st/2nd Rounds(3-21/23)
Taco Bell Arena
Boise
Boise State University
Xfinity Center(NEW)
College Park, MD
University of Maryland, College Park
Fiserv Forum
Milwaukee
Marquette University
Amalie Arena
Tampa
University of South Florida
1st/2nd Round(3-22/24)
Nationwide Arena
Columbus
The Ohio State University
Bon Secours Wellness Arena
Greenville, SC
Furman University and Southern Conference
Chesapeake Energy Arena
Oklahoma City
University of Oklahoma
SAP Center at San Jose
San Jose
West Coast Conference

South Regional(3-28/30)
State Farm Arena
Atlanta
Georgia Institute of Technology
West Regional(3-28/30)
Moda Center
Portland
Oregon State University
East Regional(3-29/31)
TD Arena
Boston
Harvard University
Midwest Regional(3-29/31)
Enterprise Center
St. Louis
Saint Louis University

2025
1st/2nd Rounds(3-20/22)
Little Caesars Arena
Detroit
University of Detroit Mercy and Oakland University
Smoothie King Center
New Orleans
Tulane University
Dunkin Donuts Center
Providence
Providence College
Viejas Arena
San Diego
San Diego State University
1st/2nd Rounds(3-21/23)
Amway Center
Orlando
Stetson University and University of Central Florida
PNC Arena
Raleigh
North Carolina State University
Spokane Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Spokane
University of Idaho
InTrust Bank Arena
Wichita
Wichita State University

Midwest Regional(3-27/29)
Lucas Oil Stadium
Indianapolis
Horizon League and IUPUI
West Regional(3-27/29)
Chase Center
San Francisco
Stanford University
East Regional(3-28/30)
Madison Square Garden
New York
Big East Conference and St. John's University
South Regional(3-28/30)
American Airlines Center
Dallas
Southern Methodist University

2026

1st/2nd Rounds(3-19/21)
Spectrum Center
Charlotte
Davidson College
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Cleveland
Cleveland State University
CHI Health Center Omaha
Omaha
Creighton University
Vivint Smart Home Arena
Salt Lake City
University of Utah
1st/2nd Rounds(3-20/22)
Barclays Center
Brooklyn
Atlantic 10 Conference
Pepsi Center
Denver
Mountain West Conference
Target Center
Minneapolis
OR
Xcel Energy Center(NEW?)
St. Paul
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Bridgestone Arena
Nashville
Ohio Valley Conference

East Regional(3-26/28)
Wells Fargo Center
Philadelphia
Saint Joseph's University
West Regional(3-26/28)
Las Vegas Stadium(NEW?)
Las Vegas
UNLV
OR
Los Angeles Stadium at Hollywood Park(NEW?)
Inglewood, CA
University of California, Los Angeles and University of Southern California
Midwest Regional(3-27/29)
United Center
Chicago
Big Ten Conference
South Regional(3-27/29)
KFC! Yum Center
Louisville
University of Louisville

Your thoughts?

EDIT(5-7): swapped Memphis and New Orleans

Exactly what I was thinking..

I remember the days when we’d get them at United Center and Rosemont Horizon (site of the historic ‘05 Elite 8 comeback).

Went to Rosemont for a Wolves game last weekend and it’s hilarious to think that venue and its wooden ceiling actually hosted a regional final.

They already have the final four sites pick til I wanna say 2026

The next few years is Atlanta indy Houston Phoenix San Antonio then Indianapolis again

(04-24-2019 01:34 PM)KingSean Wrote:  The next few years is Atlanta indy Houston Phoenix San Antonio then Indianapolis again

Add the Carrier Dome one year as a regional site, the Times Union Center in Albany another year as a 1st/second round site, Maybe one or two of the other NYC venues and at least one South Carolina venue (North Charleston Coliseum) and this makes more sense.

Boise usually gets one every 3 years or so.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

These are all good facilities. The majority of major arenas in this country have hosted an NCAA tournament event at one time or another, especially if they have a willing host institution and meet the standards for hotels and airline service.

I've noticed that regional sites in upcoming years will be in arenas (rather than domes), except for the periodic appearance in Indianapolis. For example, the next time Houston hosts will be the 2020 South Regional, in Toyota Center. Houston's recent regionals have been in NRG Stadium. The NCAA no longer requires Final Four host cities to host a regional in the same venue in the previous year as a trial run.

With that in mind, the new stadiums in Las Vegas and Los Angeles will most likely be too big to host a regional. However, they will be worthy of a Final Four (though it is doubtful that the NCAA will host an event in Nevada, even with the relaxed attitude toward gambling). The NCAA will love to have another option in the West for a Final Four. Phoenix/Glendale is the only western host for a Final Four since Seattle did away with the Kingdome.

I Googled the role of a host institution, as I wasn't sure what that entailed. The host institution handles logistics such as media coordination, travel arrangements such as air charters and hotels, insurance coverage and liability for the site, and volunteer coverage for the event. They get their names on signs, and their logo on the court. Institutions are steering away from that role if there is a chance that their team will play at their nearby site. A team cannot play at a site where it is a host institution. For example, Kansas is never the host institution in Kansas City, so that their team can play there if seeded high enough. In past years, the Big 12 has served as the host institution when Kansas City hosts the tournament. This year, the Missouri Valley served as the host institution in Kansas City. (The Big 12 will host in Dallas in 2021)

(04-24-2019 04:53 PM)johnintx Wrote:  With that in mind, the new stadiums in Las Vegas and Los Angeles will most likely be too big to host a regional. However, they will be worthy of a Final Four (though it is doubtful that the NCAA will host an event in Nevada, even with the relaxed attitude toward gambling). The NCAA will love to have another option in the West for a Final Four. Phoenix/Glendale is the only western host for a Final Four since Seattle did away with the Kingdome.

UNLV apparently made an attempt to bid for a basketball regional and a Frozen Four in the last cycle, but PASPA was still in place at the time. With PAPSA struck down, Nevada facilities can bid and I'm pretty sure the NCAA will select Las Vegas once or twice. Los Angeles is also expected to bid for Final Four after 2026. Thus my either/or scenario for 2026.

(04-24-2019 04:53 PM)johnintx Wrote:  These are all good facilities. The majority of major arenas in this country have hosted an NCAA tournament event at one time or another, especially if they have a willing host institution and meet the standards for hotels and airline service.

I've noticed that regional sites in upcoming years will be in arenas (rather than domes), except for the periodic appearance in Indianapolis. For example, the next time Houston hosts will be the 2020 South Regional, in Toyota Center. Houston's recent regionals have been in NRG Stadium. The NCAA no longer requires Final Four host cities to host a regional in the same venue in the previous year as a trial run.

With that in mind, the new stadiums in Las Vegas and Los Angeles will most likely be too big to host a regional. However, they will be worthy of a Final Four (though it is doubtful that the NCAA will host an event in Nevada, even with the relaxed attitude toward gambling). The NCAA will love to have another option in the West for a Final Four. Phoenix/Glendale is the only western host for a Final Four since Seattle did away with the Kingdome.

I Googled the role of a host institution, as I wasn't sure what that entailed. The host institution handles logistics such as media coordination, travel arrangements such as air charters and hotels, insurance coverage and liability for the site, and volunteer coverage for the event. They get their names on signs, and their logo on the court. Institutions are steering away from that role if there is a chance that their team will play at their nearby site. A team cannot play at a site where it is a host institution. For example, Kansas is never the host institution in Kansas City, so that their team can play there if seeded high enough. In past years, the Big 12 has served as the host institution when Kansas City hosts the tournament. This year, the Missouri Valley served as the host institution in Kansas City. (The Big 12 will host in Dallas in 2021)

Hosting is fairly taxing on spring break periods for most schools and there are other championships being competed for during the same time.

NCAA also asks for a lot of "perks" aka free services from a city's general fund or tax breaks as Wichita found out when they hosted in 2014 for the first time in over two decades.
https://www.kansas.com/news/local/article4188702.html

Conferences host all the time. Big West hosts in Anaheim as opposed to UC-Irvine or LBSU. WCC host at SAP Pavilion in San Jose, the MAC co-hosts in Cleveland and the Pac-12 will host at Chase Center down the street from their San Francisco HQ.

(04-24-2019 06:33 PM)Rube Dali Wrote:  

(04-24-2019 04:53 PM)johnintx Wrote:  With that in mind, the new stadiums in Las Vegas and Los Angeles will most likely be too big to host a regional. However, they will be worthy of a Final Four (though it is doubtful that the NCAA will host an event in Nevada, even with the relaxed attitude toward gambling). The NCAA will love to have another option in the West for a Final Four. Phoenix/Glendale is the only western host for a Final Four since Seattle did away with the Kingdome.

UNLV apparently made an attempt to bid for a basketball regional and a Frozen Four in the last cycle, but PASPA was still in place at the time. With PAPSA struck down, Nevada facilities can bid and I'm pretty sure the NCAA will select Law Vegas once or twice. Los Angeles is also expected to bid for Final Four after 2026. Thus my either/or scenario for 2026.

The NCAA has rescinded its ban on holding NCAA championship events in legal sports betting states. They pretty much had to, because there are now several states with legal sports betting and there are many future NCAA events, including March Madness rounds, already scheduled for some of those states.

Sports betting might still give the heebie-jeebies to the NCAA numbskulls, so Thomas & Mack Center seems like the more likely site if Vegas gets March Madness games, even though they'd make more money playing at T-Mobile Arena.

The NCAA: conference championships are okay in Vegas, but not national championships.

Glad they got rid of that logic. Vegas is the epicenter of western college hoops in early March.

I could definitely see both LA and Vegas in the Final Four (and college football title) mix come the end of next decade. I can see all the Hollywood and casino themed graphics etc now...

(05-03-2019 10:20 AM)Wedge Wrote:  

(04-24-2019 06:33 PM)Rube Dali Wrote:  

(04-24-2019 04:53 PM)johnintx Wrote:  With that in mind, the new stadiums in Las Vegas and Los Angeles will most likely be too big to host a regional. However, they will be worthy of a Final Four (though it is doubtful that the NCAA will host an event in Nevada, even with the relaxed attitude toward gambling). The NCAA will love to have another option in the West for a Final Four. Phoenix/Glendale is the only western host for a Final Four since Seattle did away with the Kingdome.

UNLV apparently made an attempt to bid for a basketball regional and a Frozen Four in the last cycle, but PASPA was still in place at the time. With PAPSA struck down, Nevada facilities can bid and I'm pretty sure the NCAA will select Law Vegas once or twice. Los Angeles is also expected to bid for Final Four after 2026. Thus my either/or scenario for 2026.

The NCAA has rescinded its ban on holding NCAA championship events in legal sports betting states. They pretty much had to, because there are now several states with legal sports betting and there are many future NCAA events, including March Madness rounds, already scheduled for some of those states.

Sports betting might still give the heebie-jeebies to the NCAA numbskulls, so Thomas & Mack Center seems like the more likely site if Vegas gets March Madness games, even though they'd make more money playing at T-Mobile Arena.

Thanks for the update. Yes, that makes sense.

And yes, Thomas & Mack makes sense as a host.

This also opens up the new Raiders stadium as a potential Final Four host, if the NCAA wants to go there.

Los Angeles and Las Vegas would both be great to have more NCAA games in my opinion.

(05-03-2019 10:33 AM)johnintx Wrote:  

(05-03-2019 10:20 AM)Wedge Wrote:  

(04-24-2019 06:33 PM)Rube Dali Wrote:  

(04-24-2019 04:53 PM)johnintx Wrote:  With that in mind, the new stadiums in Las Vegas and Los Angeles will most likely be too big to host a regional. However, they will be worthy of a Final Four (though it is doubtful that the NCAA will host an event in Nevada, even with the relaxed attitude toward gambling). The NCAA will love to have another option in the West for a Final Four. Phoenix/Glendale is the only western host for a Final Four since Seattle did away with the Kingdome.

UNLV apparently made an attempt to bid for a basketball regional and a Frozen Four in the last cycle, but PASPA was still in place at the time. With PAPSA struck down, Nevada facilities can bid and I'm pretty sure the NCAA will select Law Vegas once or twice. Los Angeles is also expected to bid for Final Four after 2026. Thus my either/or scenario for 2026.

The NCAA has rescinded its ban on holding NCAA championship events in legal sports betting states. They pretty much had to, because there are now several states with legal sports betting and there are many future NCAA events, including March Madness rounds, already scheduled for some of those states.

Sports betting might still give the heebie-jeebies to the NCAA numbskulls, so Thomas & Mack Center seems like the more likely site if Vegas gets March Madness games, even though they'd make more money playing at T-Mobile Arena.

Thanks for the update. Yes, that makes sense.

And yes, Thomas & Mack makes sense as a host.

This also opens up the new Raiders stadium as a potential Final Four host, if the NCAA wants to go there.

No, you play at T-Mobile Arena. Even with the recent updates, Thomas and Mack is a far inferior facility.

(05-04-2019 07:59 AM)Renandpat Wrote:  

(05-03-2019 10:33 AM)johnintx Wrote:  

(05-03-2019 10:20 AM)Wedge Wrote:  

(04-24-2019 06:33 PM)Rube Dali Wrote:  

(04-24-2019 04:53 PM)johnintx Wrote:  With that in mind, the new stadiums in Las Vegas and Los Angeles will most likely be too big to host a regional. However, they will be worthy of a Final Four (though it is doubtful that the NCAA will host an event in Nevada, even with the relaxed attitude toward gambling). The NCAA will love to have another option in the West for a Final Four. Phoenix/Glendale is the only western host for a Final Four since Seattle did away with the Kingdome.

UNLV apparently made an attempt to bid for a basketball regional and a Frozen Four in the last cycle, but PASPA was still in place at the time. With PAPSA struck down, Nevada facilities can bid and I'm pretty sure the NCAA will select Law Vegas once or twice. Los Angeles is also expected to bid for Final Four after 2026. Thus my either/or scenario for 2026.

The NCAA has rescinded its ban on holding NCAA championship events in legal sports betting states. They pretty much had to, because there are now several states with legal sports betting and there are many future NCAA events, including March Madness rounds, already scheduled for some of those states.

Sports betting might still give the heebie-jeebies to the NCAA numbskulls, so Thomas & Mack Center seems like the more likely site if Vegas gets March Madness games, even though they'd make more money playing at T-Mobile Arena.

Thanks for the update. Yes, that makes sense.

And yes, Thomas & Mack makes sense as a host.

This also opens up the new Raiders stadium as a potential Final Four host, if the NCAA wants to go there.

No, you play at T-Mobile Arena. Even with the recent updates, Thomas and Mack is a far inferior facility.

The new arena is definitely a better facility, but the NCAA ninnies who want to pretend gambling isn't so close to their sport may not want to be at an arena that is surrounded by casino resorts.

(05-04-2019 12:00 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(05-04-2019 07:59 AM)Renandpat Wrote:  

(05-03-2019 10:33 AM)johnintx Wrote:  

(05-03-2019 10:20 AM)Wedge Wrote:  

(04-24-2019 06:33 PM)Rube Dali Wrote:  UNLV apparently made an attempt to bid for a basketball regional and a Frozen Four in the last cycle, but PASPA was still in place at the time. With PAPSA struck down, Nevada facilities can bid and I'm pretty sure the NCAA will select Law Vegas once or twice. Los Angeles is also expected to bid for Final Four after 2026. Thus my either/or scenario for 2026.

The NCAA has rescinded its ban on holding NCAA championship events in legal sports betting states. They pretty much had to, because there are now several states with legal sports betting and there are many future NCAA events, including March Madness rounds, already scheduled for some of those states.

Sports betting might still give the heebie-jeebies to the NCAA numbskulls, so Thomas & Mack Center seems like the more likely site if Vegas gets March Madness games, even though they'd make more money playing at T-Mobile Arena.

Thanks for the update. Yes, that makes sense.

And yes, Thomas & Mack makes sense as a host.

This also opens up the new Raiders stadium as a potential Final Four host, if the NCAA wants to go there.

No, you play at T-Mobile Arena. Even with the recent updates, Thomas and Mack is a far inferior facility.

The new arena is definitely a better facility, but the NCAA ninnies who want to pretend gambling isn't so close to their sport may not want to be at an arena that is surrounded by casino resorts.

They've lost that battle, especially close to home within Indiana and the state legislature.
Heck, the state in which they reside is about to have the governor sign a gambling bill which will allow mobile gaming statewide, so even in the venues where they're committed to host championships every five years*.

*-NCAA has already broken that promise by giving Lucas Oil stadium the 2021 Final Four, not the 2020 per their extended lease for the Hall of Champions.
EDIT: Indiana's governor signed the gambling bill into law on Wednesday, so now ten states have some sort of sports betting.

The Carrier Dome should be in-line for a regional hosting.
The work should be done by 2022. New Roof, AC, SOA lighting and scoreboard on rail.

The NCAA likes campus sites when possible.

For what it's worth: Not March Madness yet, but Las Vegas is planning to bid to host the Frozen Four and NCAA hockey regionals.

(05-10-2019 10:01 PM)Wedge Wrote:  For what it's worth: Not March Madness yet, but Las Vegas is planning to bid to host the Frozen Four and NCAA hockey regionals.

Quote:The Golden Knights are the most in-demand team for the second year in a row, according to StubHub data. Vegas is outselling the Toronto Maple Leafs, the second-top-selling team, by 27 percent. This marks the first time a team has topped StubHub's NHL list two seasons in a row since the Chicago Blackhawks reigned from 2014-2016. Meanwhile, Vivid Seats reports that it has seen double the volume of sales for the Golden Knights as their No. 2-selling team, the New York Rangers.

Vegas has absolutely killed it as a hockey city. NHL hit a grand slam going there (and Nashville).